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Lim slams Atienza for saying he left city P3.1B in savings

10/14/2007

Apparently not contented with the tearing down of all establishments that lined the Baywalk on Roxas Boulevard during the term of Mayor Joselito Atienza in the belief they only benefitted people close to the former mayor but drew adverse reactions from many Manileños and tourists alike, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim has “exploded” another bomb against Atienza.

Lim yesterday exposed the City of Manila suffered a massive shortfall in tax collections in the amount of P1.4 billion, thus it will be forced to resort to belt-tightening.

Lim made the exposé after completing his first 100 days in office and blamed no one else for the shortfall but his predecessor.

“Ang report ng treasurer, this year we will suffer a shortfall of collection mga P1.4 billion. Belt-tightening kami ngayon (Our treasurer reported that we will suffer a collection shortfall of P1.4 billion. We’re now in belt-tightening mode),” he said during a radio interview.

Lim was scheduled to formally present his “achievement report” for his first 100 days before a church-backed forum in Manila last night.

He said this includes refund demands from large firms such as Coca-Cola, Singer sewing machines and Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) for taxes from 2000 to June 30 this year.

Lim, who headed the Manila police in the 1980s, added the shortfall has delayed his plan to acquire 60 police patrol cars to beef up police visibility in the city.

Lim belied Atienza’s “press release” of leaving the city P3.1-billion after his term ended last June 30.

According to him, the P3.1 billion turned out to have been earmarked for various projects, trust funds and expenditures as well as salaries of Manila City Hall employees.

“Sabi ng treasurer walang savings pero pwede i-realign ang pera (Our treasurer said there were no savings left though we can realign some funds),” he said.

Lim added he expects to hold biddings for the 60 mobile cars by next month. He said he wants to see 20 police patrol cars criss-crossing the city at any given time.

Lim added he assured MPD head Chief Supt. Roberto Rosales that the city hall will shoulder expenses for an additional eight liters of fuel a day for every police patrol car.

“Basta kailangan mga kotse makita sa kalsada. Gusto ko rin ibalik ang uniformed beat patrol (The bottom line is that I want to see those cars on the streets. I also want to bring back the uniformed beat patrol),” he said.

According to Lim, he has plans for the Baywalk area, including having rondallas from elementary and high schools perform there instead of having bands disrupt the scenery.

He also belied criticisms that he is sabotaging Atienza’s lighting project, saying thieves stripped away the wiring of the street lamps.

“Two weeks ago biglang namatay. Ang nagkalat ako daw nagpapatay. Ninakaw pala ang kuryente. Nahuli na namin ang magnanakaw pati ang buyer sa Pasay City,” Lim said.